If i want to find imformation about my dad who served in the vietnam war,how do i go about doing that?

Answer 1

If he is alive, talk to him. If he's deceased, speak to family members about what he may have told them.

If he was in the US army, for free from you computer you can register for a three day free trial at ancestry.com. Then search these databases:
http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8750 if he is deceased and buried in a military cemetery.
http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8847 if he was decorated.
http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8846 if he was wounded.
http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3095 if he died in battle or from wounds received in battle.

Also check out this page of links for state level databases: http://www.usigs.org/library/military/links/vietnam.html

Answer 2

Here are 5 good sites to start out with:
www.cyndislist.com (she has a section on military records)
www.Govt-Files.com (search any military record)
www.FreeRecordsRegistry.com (check military records with
Social Security Number)
www.military.com (over 20 million records, including VietNam)
http://genealogy.about.com/od/vietnam (has databases featuring military records)
Some may need copies of your Dad's DD-214 or DD-215 records first (DD=Department of Defense). A couple sites to get these are:
www.dd214.org (for $19.95 you get an official copy of this record. The Government does not supply originals any more, so it would be a photocopy).
www.citationexpress.com (has a free online DD214/215 application form, and there is no charge for replacement copies. But, depending on the amount of information you supply, it could take from 17 weeks to 1 year to receive them, because the Defense Department gets 5,000 requests a DAY for these forms).

Answer 3

I believe the National Archives in St Louis keeps the records on wars in the 1900s (not sure what the cut-off date is). Anything earlier is kept in Washington DC.

You will have to know what branch he was in, the Company information and his ID number and his death certificate in order to get his records. If he is still living, he is the only one that can apply for them.

You can write to them and ask for forms to apply for the records and ask them what the charges will be to get copies. They also have a form at the below site that you can print and send in and there is other information at that site to guide you.

Ancestry.com does charge to join but has a free trial period so get all the information together and see if you can find it during the trial period.

Answer 4

try to find out his social securtiy number, that would help out alot. info u need to have full name,rank,place stationed. which branch of the military. what about uncles, aunts, mother, etc...
also, try his birthdate most important.